Beaverkill / Willowemoc River (Catskills) 2026 — New York Fishing Regulations

State-level special regulation

• The Catskills' most-storied trout water — the birthplace of American fly fishing at Junction Pool in Roscoe. Under NYSDEC special regulations the Beaver Kill carries all-year Catch-and-Release, artificial-lures-only no-kill reaches (around the Iron Bridge at Horton — with a July 1 – Aug 31 angling closure on the warm reach below it for thermal refuge — and a 2.5-mi reach below Roscoe to the old railroad trestle); the Willowemoc Creek carries an all-year Catch-and-Release artificial-only reach from the second Route 17 Quickway bridge east of Roscoe upstream 3.5 mi; flanking reaches are Stocked-Extended (3 trout / day, no more than 1 over 12 in). Wild + holdover brown, brook, and rainbow trout.

  Source: New York special-water list

Official source

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation publishes the authoritative 2026 New York fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official New York fishing regulations →

Other special-regulation waters in New York

• Adirondack heritage waters
• Batten Kill
• Beaver River (Stillwater Res.)
• Black Lake (St. Lawrence Co.)
• Block Island Sound (NY waters — Montauk approaches)
• Catskill streams (Schoharie etc.)
• Cattaraugus Creek
• Cayuga Lake (Finger Lakes)
• Chautauqua Lake
• Cross River Reservoir
• Croton system reservoirs
• Delaware River (main stem)

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Beaverkill / Willowemoc River (Catskills)?

Beaverkill / Willowemoc River (Catskills) carries one special-regulation overlay that overrides New York's statewide 2026 rules. It reads: "The Catskills' most-storied trout water — the birthplace of American fly fishing at Junction Pool in Roscoe. Under NYSDEC special regulations the Beaver Kill carries all-year Catch-and-Release, artificial-lures-only no-kill reaches (around the Iron Bridge at Horton — with a July 1 – Aug 31 angling closure on the warm reach below it for thermal refuge — and a 2.5-mi reach below Roscoe to the old railroad trestle); the Willowemoc Creek carries an all-year Catch-and-Release artificial-only reach from the second Route 17 Quickway bridge east of Roscoe upstream 3.5 mi; flanking reaches are Stocked-Extended (3 trout / day, no more than 1 over 12 in). Wild + holdover brown, brook, and rainbow trout." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Beaverkill / Willowemoc River (Catskills)?

Yes. Beaverkill / Willowemoc River (Catskills) is in New York, so a valid New York fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Beaverkill / Willowemoc River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide New York rules.

Do Beaverkill / Willowemoc River (Catskills)'s special rules replace New York's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. New York's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Beaverkill / Willowemoc River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rule for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

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